Gaff hook



Patented Mar. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' GAFF HOOK Harvey R. Ziebell, Oshkosh,l Wis.

Applicationctober 18, 1947Serial No. 780,703

(Cl. 29d-26) 2 Claims.

l This invention appertains to fishing appliances and more particularly to a folding collapsible device for facilitating the landing of iish.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a fishing appliance embodying an elongated handle having pivotally connected thereto thevsh engaging member, whereby said member cani-be swung outward to an operative,

rextended' position in longitudinal alignment with the handle or-back alongside the handle to a collapsed out ofthe way inoperative position.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a device for landing sh, in which the handle is of a light hollow, water-tight construction to form a fioat, whereby should theY device be inadvertently dropped'overboard, the same Will 'oatvand. thereby preventthe loss of said device.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a iisliing appliance of the above character, which can be quicklylocked rigidly against movement in its operative, extended position, so that the implement can be effectively used.

Astill further object offmy invention is to provide a fishing appliance embodying a light tubular handle closed and sealed at its rear end by a suitable cap and closed and sealed at its forward end by a novel head, which in turn pivotally supports and locks the iish engaging member.

A still further important ob; ect of my invention is to provide a fish appliance of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will beV simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With ithese and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specincaliy described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing-.in which drawing:

Figure-l is a side elevational view of my improved shing appliance, showing the same in its collapsed, inoperative position, parts of the figure beingshown broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the appliance in its operative extended position, the` View also illustrating the water line should the vappliance be inadvertently dropped in the water.

Figui-cl3 yis a side elevational view looking at right angles to Figure 1 of the drawing and showing theiappliance in its collapsed, inoperative position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view taken at right angles to Figures l and' 2 and showing the appliance in its extended, operative position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged7 fragmentary, detail, sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail, transverse, sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows and illustrating the locking mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, side elevational View partly in section, showing a slight modified form of closure cap for the rear end of the handle;

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate correspending parts throughoutthe several views, the letter A generally indicates my novel fishing appliance for facilitating the landing of iish. In the present illustration, I have shown the appliance in the form oi' a gall" hook, out the handle can carry a net in lieu ci the hook.

As illustrated, my applianceA comprises a handle IG. The handle is of novel construction, which will now be described in detail. The handle I is of an elongated form and includes a light tubular shell I I formed from aluminum, or the like. The rear end of the shell i l has iitted therein an end cap I2, so as to completely close and seal this end. in one form of the invention, the rear end or" the shell II is pressed inwardly to form a seat I3, the purpose of which will later appear. It is to be noted that the end cap i2 is also pressed in with the shell to form this seat. A rivet I4 can extend across the end cap I2, not only for the purpose of holding the end cap in position but to also permit the attaching of a cord or snap hook to the device.

The forward end of the tubular shell receives a novel head I5, and this head is inserted part way in the shell, and the shell is then drawn and pressed tight around said head in sealing contact therewith. The head I5 then projects forwardly of the handle. By this construction a water-tight, light handle is provided, which forms a float for the entire appliance. Pivotally connected to the head beyond the handle by means of a pivot pin I6 is the gaff hook I1. This gaff hook I1 includes a resilient shank I8. .The outer end of the shank is curvedto provide a bight or hook portion I9, and the outer end thereof is tapered and sharpened as at 20 to provide a penetrating point. Thispoint can extend slightly in an outward path. The rear end of the shank is coiled to provide an eye 2I, and the pivot pin extends through the eye 2I and the head I5 as atomes previously set forth. When the hook Il is not in use, the same is swung rearwardly of the handle on the pivot pin I6, and the shank of the hook is iiexed so that the bill or point 20 will snap into the seat I3. The tension is such that the point or bill will normally be held in the seat. If desired, an open ring 22 can be rotatably mounted on the rear end of the handle. The ring can be turned so as to register the opening therein with the socket to permit the bill or point 20 to ride into the socket. The ring can then be turned a slight distance so that the opening will be moving past the bill to hold the bill in the socket or seat against accidental displacement.

The head l5 beyond the handle is provided with a-longitudinal groove 23, and the width of the groove corresponds substantially to the diameter of the shank I8 of the gaiT hook. Consequently, when the gai hook is swung to its extended, operative position, as shown in Figure 2, the shank will ride into the groove so that the shank will be substantially in longitudinal alignment with the axial longitudinal center of the handle.

Rotatably mounted on the extreme forward end of the head l5 is a sleeve 2li. This sleeve is provided with a slot 25, and by turning the sleeve, the slot can be moved into registration with the groove 23 in the head l5. At this time, the shank i8 can be swung into the groove 23, and after the shank is seated in the groove, the sleeve can be turned so that the slot 25 will be out of alignment with the groove. This will effectively lock the shank in its extended position, and the sleeve will brace the shank adjacent to pivot i6.

In the making of my device, the sleeve can be in the nature of an open ring and can be sprung on the head and then brought comparatively tight around said head so that only the slot 25 will be formed.

In Figure 7, I have shown a slightly modied form of end cap for the handle i0. In this form I utilize an end cap 25S haring an annular skirt 2'1. which is iitted tight in the shell H. A portion of the cap extends beyond the shell il and hasl formed therein a groove which constitutes a seat for the bill or point ES of the gafl hook.

In Figure 2, I have shown a line indicated by the reference character 29, and this indicates a Water line. If the device is inadvertently dropped in the water, the same will float, and the rear end of the handle will protrude above the water the distance shown in Figure 2.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a device for landing iish which will not only fold to a collapsed position, so that the same will occupy a small compass whereby the same can be readily stored away in a tackle box or the like, but which will also be buoyant and light to handle.

Much stress is laid on the fact that the hook portion of the device can be quickly swung to its extended operative position and then locked in place.

Various changes in details can be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. A gaff hook comprising a handle having a .forwardly projecting terminal provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a shank having a hinge barrel on its inner end fitted in the rear end of said groove, a bight portion and bill on its forward end, a pivot pin extending through the hinge barrel and the forwardly projecting terminal, said shank being movable in the groove, means carried by the extended portion for locking the shank in said groove.

2. A gai hook comprising a handle having a forwardly projecting terminal provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a shank having .a hinge barrel on its inner end tted in the rear r and means carried by the extended portion for locking the shank in said groove, said means consisting of a sleeve rotatably carried by said extended portion having a slot movable into and out of alignment with the groove.

HARVEY R. ZIEBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 752,550 Heritage Feb. 16, 1904 895,126 Thomson Aug. 4, 1908 1,302,457 Ureck Apr. 29, 1919 2,214,660 Darling Sept. 10, 1940 

